Job fears over fire service move

Plans to centralise fire cover for five counties in the Midlands have prompted union concerns over possible job cuts.

A report has revealed the plans, set to be implemented in 2009, may leave staff in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire at risk of redundancy.

It is thought staff there are the most exposed because of the distance from the proposed Castle Donington site.

The facility would be one of the government's nine planned regional control centres in England.

'Not broke'

Chris Hides from the Fire Brigades Union stressed members believed the current system did not need changing.

He said: "The Fire Brigades Union are against regional controls because we believe the current 46 control units which operate through-out the United Kingdom work perfectly adequately.

"Our view is - if it's not broke, why fix it?"

The new regional control centre at Willow Farm Business Park, Castle Donington, is expected to become operational in October 2009.

Bosses have said the centre would give an improved service to the East Midlands.

The facility will co-ordinate fire services across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.